PlayStation 5 Dominates Black Friday Sales While Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Lag Behind

No matter which holiday is celebrated in December, Black Friday is a peak day for many people to do most of their holiday shopping. It used to be a chaotic event with fights and even stabbings, but the rise of online shopping has somewhat reduced that. Still, some people enjoy the hustle and bustle, seeking deals on video games, consoles, or accessories.

When it comes to video game system sales, people often focus on which console "won" the Black Friday war. Data from the US shows an interesting market split among PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox. There is a different place for each console in the market.

Nintendo Switch 2, released in June, is a new console. As a result, it didn't sell many hardware or first-party software units on Black Friday. Xbox, on the other hand, raised the prices of its systems several times in 2025, sparking intriguing reactions. PlayStation was the most consumer-friendly option, offering deals that made its hardware more attractive than Xbox's complicated pricing strategy.

In the US, third place went to Next Playground, with 14% market share. This standalone device plays Android games through a subscription service. Surprisingly, it outsold Xbox in the US, which is considered Xbox's home turf.

Nintendo Switch 2 captured 24% of the market, while PlayStation 5 led with 47%.

Although this is a smaller percentage compared to some other regions, nearly half of all systems sold in the US were PlayStation 5s.

PlayStation's strong performance was driven by deals and marketing efforts. You could get a PlayStation 5 with a Fortnite bundle for $400, making it the most affordable newer console on the market.

Nintendo Switch 2, priced around $450-$500 with bundles like Mario Kart World, was never expected to dominate Black Friday. Most people who wanted the system had already purchased it after its June launch. With plentiful stock available, Nintendo isn't losing sleep over one weekend of sales. The system remains the fastest-selling of all time, and its long-term performance will be the real metric of success.

Xbox's approach continues to confuse consumers. Mixed pricing and unclear focus make it difficult for players to understand what the company prioritizes. If streaming is the main business, consoles might need to be reconsidered. Meanwhile, the Next Playground is gaining traction with kids playing Android games, despite Xbox struggling on its home turf.

PlayStation 5 clearly dominated Black Friday in the US, but it is just one weekend of data.

Nintendo Switch 2 continues to perform well in the long run, and Xbox faces ongoing challenges in positioning its hardware and streaming services.

People care about bargains, brand recognition, and understanding how the market is divided, which can help them make informed purchase decisions. This holiday season, whether you want a PlayStation 5, a Nintendo Switch 2, or something different like the Next Playground, each system has something special to offer.